ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) - The Detroit Lions wanted to replace Jim Schwartz with someone with experience as a head coach.

The Lions landed one, though he appears to be Plan B.

The team said Jim Caldwell has been hired as the new coach and will be introduced at a news conference Wednesday. San Diego Chargers assistant and former Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt (WIHZ'-en-hunt) was seemingly Detroit's top choice. But he chose to take the head coaching job at Tennessee on Monday night.

The Lions are giving Caldwell another chance to be an NFL head coach. He helped the Indianapolis Colts reach the Super Bowl after his debut season in 2009, but was fired two years later after a 2-14 season while Peyton Manning was injured, dropping his three-year mark to 26-22.

Lions owner William Clay Ford said in a statement: "We believe Jim is the right man to lead our team and deliver a championship to our fans."